Washington Nationals: 8-Run 4th Inning Sparks Win Over Braves

The Washington Nationals scored eight runs in the top of the fourth tonight in a 11-9 win over the Braves.

On a night where Ryan Zimmerman made his return to the Washington Nationals (73-49) lineup, the Nats offense had arguably their best inning in club history. Down 3-1 to the Atlanta Braves (44-79) heading into the top of the fourth, the Washington Nationals sent 11 men to the plate and scored eight runs. Despite some bullpen and defensive woes, the Nats hung on to beat Atlanta, 11-9.

Zimmerman got the scoring started in the second against Braves starter Tyrell Jenkins. He took a first pitch fastball and hit it over the wall in left to put the Nats up 1-0. It was Zimmerman’s 13^th home run of the season. He went 3-for-4 with two RBI’s in the win.

Atlanta would rally back with three runs in the bottom of the second against Max Scherzer. The Braves had back-to-back hits to start the inning, Then, Chase d’Arnaud’s RBI groundout tied the game at one. Three batters later, Adonis Garcia hit a two-run double to left to give the Braves a 3-1 lead. But, that lead wouldn’t last for long.

The historic fourth inning started with a solo home run to right by Daniel Murphy, his 23^rd of the season. Anthony Rendon would tie the game at three later in the inning when his single to left scored Bryce Harper. (walked and stole second).

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Rendon’s single would be the first of four straight singles, including RBI singles by Wilmer Difo and Scherzer. Then, Trea Turner extended the lead to 8-3 with a three-run home run to left-center, his fourth of the season.

After a single by Jayson Werth, Jenkins was pulled from the game. He went 3.1 innings, gave up nine runs on eight hits, struck out three, and walked two on 76 pitches in the loss.

That ninth run Jenkins was charged with would come on a Harper RBI single against Ryan Weber, the final run of the fourth inning. As Mark Zuckerman of MASN tweeted, the Nats set a team record and tied a franchise record with that historic fourth:

During the top of the seventh, Scherzer picked up his second RBI of the night on an infield single. While the Braves tacked on a fourth run when Blake Treinen threw a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh , Scherzer still pitched well with the lead. He went 6.1 innings, gave up four runs on six hits, struck out six, and walked three on 101 pitches (69 strikes) in the win.

With the score 11-5, the Braves mounted a comeback against the Washington Nationals bullpen. Matt Belisle allowed three hits and only got one out in the eighth. With the bases loaded,  Jeff Francoeur cut the lead to 10-5 with a RBI single to right.

After that single, Dusty Baker went to Shawn Kelley to face the top of the Braves order. Ender Inciarte’s RBI groundout due to a botched double play by Murphy cut the lead to 10-6. Kelley got Garcia to ground out to third to end the eighth.

In the top of the ninth, the Washington Nationals got their final run of the night on a sacrifice fly to center by Zimmerman. That sac fly scored Rendon, who went 4-for-5 himself with three runs scored.

On a night where the Washington Nationals led by seven, no one expected Mark Melancon to come in for the ninth in a save situation. Koda Glover gave up an RBI double to Peterson with two outs to cut the lead to 11-7.

Once Melancon came in, the Braves comeback continued as d’Arnaud hit a two-run single into center. With the tying run at the plate (pinch-hitter Anthony Recker), Melancon got him to pop out to first to end the game.

Next: Zimmerman And Lobaton Back With Nats

Next Game: The Washington Nationals will go for the sweep of the series tomorrow afternoon against the Braves at Turner Field. You can watch the game at 1:35 p.m ET on MASN or WUSA9. Gio Gonzalez (8-9, 4.28 ERA) will start for the Nationals against Joel De La Cruz (0-6, 3.72) for the Braves.